The TechCrunch Europe Top 100 Index

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Today we launch the TechCrunch Europe Top 100. This is a new, constantly updated Index of the most innovative and highest-potential European tech companies, as compiled by our partner YouNoodle. As you’ll see, the Index is focused on mobile and web companies, although cleantech and gadget companies will have a presence on the list, which covers the broad Europe, Middle East and Africa region (EMEA).

So I bet you’re wondering why we created this list? Well Europe, despite being a bigger market than the U.S., is spread across multiple countries, jurisdictions and languages. However, many companies themselves trade both across this complex matrix and internationally. So in order to throw some light onto the situation we wanted to do more that just cover the market in a traditional media manner (as we already do). We wanted to use a data-led approach to create a list which could start to throw up both the themes and the diversity of this rich marketplace. We hope the TechCrunch Europe Top 100 will help throw some light on the European companies that are generating strong, genuine progress.

So from here on, the list will be updated constantly and TechCrunch Europe will profile one or more of the companies in the index monthly to check up on their progress.

What is the data we use to create the score based on? YouNoodle’s scores and rankings are based on a sophisticated algorithm using information pulled in from thousands of online sources: traffic, mainstream media, funding information sources, the blogosphere, and other key factors.

A YouNoodle Score is a measurement, on a scale of 0 to 100, of a startup’s progress as an early-stage company. Typically, a 0-15 company is just getting started, a 30-60 company has experienced some very strong growth (through traffic, funding, or revenue), and a 90-plus company is a strong IPO or acquisition candidate. The score is based on a sophisticated algorithm using information from thousands of online sources: traffic, level of mainstream media coverage, funding, blogosphere activity, and other key factors.

Now I dare say you are asking yourself – how can the score be influenced? Can it be “gamed”? The simple answer is that the scores are mostly based on verified facts, so it’s pretty difficult to “game”. We have detected a few anomalies where startups were being overvalued, and each time we update the design to accommodate that.

It’s also fair to ask, if your company is on the list, what can you do to get it rated higher? Again, simply, just build value for your company. This is in the form of whatever is most valuable to your business in the short and medium term – possibly traffic, funding, revenue, partnerships, key hires, or major media coverage. Keep in mind that the algorithm for scores is specific to an industry, and in some cases location as well.

What do you need to do to get on the list? If you’re doing well we’ll probably find you. Ensuring your company is listed on CrunchBase and YouNoodle will speed up that process. If you think we’re missing something, want to recommend a company, or have any questions, feel free to get in touch with our contact at YouNoodle, Kirill via kirill[AT]younoodle.com or @kirill on Twitter.